Exit Strategy
Definition
An exit strategy is how shareholders eventually convert their equity into cash or liquid stock, primarily through acquisition or IPO, occasionally through secondary sales.
How it comes up in fundraising
Investors underwrite exits when they invest: a fund needs credible paths to outcomes large enough to return meaningful capital.
Frequently asked questions
Do investors expect an exit slide in the deck?
Early-stage investors generally do not; naming acquirers at pre-seed reads as premature. They expect a market big enough that exits take care of themselves.
What is the most common startup exit?
Acquisition, by a wide margin; IPOs are reserved for the largest outcomes.
Put this term to work
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